weary & depleted,

she pauses, ever so briefly,

in her deliberations

black smoke, billowing

heat of a thousand roaring fires

unrepentant abandon

petite, a head shorter than me

a young nurse takes my vitals—

her tiny, pale pink nails

honey locust leafy boughs,

tumultuous spring-green explosion—

the pleasant entirety

of my sunroom window view

northern wildfire plume

settles in —

my burning eyes,

my miserable, miserable nose

awash in white light

every artefact laid bare

chill of exposed flesh

my sins, too soon, revealed

morning becomes her

the quiet stillness

she pencils in

her To Do list

with pointed restraint

sweet alyssum’s tiny buds

peer through the herb garden

dots of pink & purple

amongst the vibrant greens